Scipio E. Baker

As printed in 1908

SCIPTO EUGENE BAKER, president and general manager of the Foos Gas Engine Company, of Springfield, Ohio, the largest and most important plant in the United States for the exclusive manufacturing of Internal Combustion Engines, has been a resident of Springfield since 1876 and is one of the most prominent citizens and leading business men of the city. He was born June 12, 1860, in Donnelsville, Clark County, Ohio, a son of Dr. A. A. Baker, a native of Enon, and one of the leading pioneer physicians of this county. Ezra D. Baker, grandfather, came from New Jersey in 1805, and laid out the village of Enon, Clark County.

Scipio E. Baker was reared and received his primary education in this county, later graduating, in 1881, from Wittenberg College, after which he engaged in the newspaper business and read law in Judge Mower's office for some time. He then formed a partnership with his father and D. E. Hosterman and established the Springfield Metallic Casket Company, of which he was general manager until 1890. In 1887 Mr. Baker promoted and organized the Champion Chemical Company, of which he is president and principal stockholder. The company started with a very small capital and has grown to large proportions and is the largest and most important concern of its kind in this or any other country. One of the principal products of the Champion Chemical Company is the Baker Burglar Proof Metallic Grave Vault, an invention of Mr. Baker. In 1890 Mr. Baker became general manager and for fourteen years has been president of the Royal Salt Company, miners and shippers of rock salt, the mines being located in Central Kansas, where they have an output exceeding 100.000 tons annually. He is also director of the Western Salt Company, of St. Louis.

In 1897 Mr. Baker headed the corporation which purchased the plant of the Foos Gas Engine Company, a co-partnership consisting of John Foos and P. P. Mast, who sold out their entire interest and retired from the company, the new corporation retaining the old name, however. When Mr. Baker and partners assumed charge of the plant, the volume of business being done by the concern was very small, and not over a dozen men, including office and factory force, were employed. The Foos Gas Engine Company now has a world-wide reputation, employing several hundred men, and carry on an extensive foreign as well as domestic trade. Mr. Baker, who has been president and general manager of the corporation since its reorganization, has been largely instrumental in building up the plant from a small concern to the largest plant in the United States for the exclusive manufacturing of Internal Combustive Engines.

Mr. Baker was united in marriage June 25, 1895, to Jessie Foos, a daughter of John Foos, one of the pioneer manufacturers of Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have one daughter, Margaret. Mr. Baker is one of the foremost men of Springfield, enterprising and public-spirited, and is held in highest esteem by his fellow-men. Fraternally he is a Mason, having attained the degree of Knight Templar. Religiously he is affiliated with the High Street Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Baker reside in the elegant old Foos homestead, which is one of the finest residences in Springfield, and is situated on the comer of High and Sycamore Streets, having been purchased in July, 1904, from John Foos.

One of the principal products of The Champion Chemical Co. is the Baker Burglar Proof Metallic Grave Vault, an invention of Mr. Baker's.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.